How Certification Works

• Organizations, individual creators, and media outlets review all framework positions
• Entities affirm alignment with ALL positions without exception
• Certification provides verified alignment for coalition building
• Certified entities are listed in a public directory
• No position can be excluded or modified for individual certification

If an entity cannot affirm any single position, the framework is not appropriate at this time.

Section 1: Democratic Governance & Independence

Democratic Governance

Organizations practice democratic governance with regular member or community input on major decisions. Leadership is accountable through elections, democratic processes, or appropriate accountability mechanisms for their organizational structure. Members, workers, or communities have access to organizational financial information.

Note: Requirements vary by organization type. Individual creators and some advocacy organizations affirm equivalent accountability mechanisms appropriate to their structure, including audience accountability and transparency.

Economic Independence

Corporate Money Rejection: Certified entities reject corporate PAC money and corporate donations. Funding comes from individual donations, membership dues, aligned labor organizations, or grassroots sources.

Funding Transparency: All entities publicly disclose funding sources over $1,000 annually. Major funding sources are made public and accessible.

Transparency & Accountability

Public Positions: Certified entities maintain public documentation of their positions, values, and platform.

Conflict Resolution: Formal processes exist for addressing conflicts and ensuring accountability to constituencies.

Section 2: Economic Justice & Workers' Rights

Public Reporting: Regular reports on activities and finances are published, or equivalent accountability mechanisms are maintained appropriate to entity structure.

Labor Power

Right to Organize: Unconditional support for workers' right to organize and strike without employer interference.

Worker Ownership: Support for worker ownership, cooperatives, and economic democracy as alternatives to traditional corporate structures.

Anti-Union Busting: Opposition to right-to-work laws and all anti-union legislation.

Union Solidarity: Refusal to cross picket lines and active support for striking workers.

Economic Redistribution

Progressive Taxation: Support for progressive taxation including wealth taxes on extreme wealth.

Universal Programs: Support for universal healthcare, housing, and education as human rights, not means-tested benefits.

Public Ownership: Support for public ownership of essential services (energy, water, utilities) over private control.

Living Wage: Support for living wage requirements and opposition to poverty wages.

Reparations & Economic Justice

Reparations for Slavery: Support for reparations for descendants of slavery in the United States.

Land Back: Support for land back initiatives and full tribal sovereignty for Indigenous peoples.

Debt Cancellation: Support for canceling student debt and medical debt.

Economic Democracy: Support for policies that redistribute wealth and economic power to working people.

Section 3: Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression

Structural Analysis

Systemic Oppression: Understanding of racism, sexism, and other oppressions as systemic structures, not just individual prejudice.

Intersectionality: Practice of intersectional analysis in organizing and work.

Class Solidarity: Centering class solidarity while addressing all forms of oppression.

Racial Justice

Police Accountability: Support for policing resource reallocation and reinvestment in communities.

End Mass Incarceration: Opposition to mass incarceration and support for decarceration.

End Qualified Immunity: Support for ending qualified immunity for law enforcement.

Abolish Death Penalty: Support for abolishing the death penalty.

End Cash Bail: Opposition to cash bail and wealth-based detention.

Immigration Justice

Pathway to Citizenship: Support for pathways to citizenship for all undocumented people.

End ICE Detention: Opposition to ICE detention and deportation practices.

Immigrant Worker Rights: Support for full labor rights for immigrant workers regardless of status.

Abolish Private Detention: Opposition to for-profit detention centers.

Refugee Protection: Support for expanding refugee admissions and protections.

Section 4: Gender & Reproductive Justice

Full LGBTQ+ Liberation

Legal Equality: Support for full legal equality for LGBTQ+ people in all areas of life.

Trans Rights: Support for trans people's right to self-determination and access to gender-affirming care.

Anti-Discrimination: Opposition to all legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights.

Marriage Equality: Support for marriage equality and relationship recognition for all.

Reproductive Justice

Abortion Access: Support for abortion access without restrictions as a fundamental right.

Contraception Access: Support for universal access to contraception and reproductive healthcare.

Bodily Autonomy: Support for bodily autonomy as a fundamental right.

Maternal Healthcare: Support for universal access to prenatal, postnatal, and maternal healthcare.

Gender Equality

Pay Equity: Support for enforcing pay equity and equal rights in employment.

Anti-Discrimination: Opposition to all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence.

Workplace Protections: Support for comprehensive workplace protections against harassment and discrimination.

Section 5: International Solidarity & Anti-Imperialism

Palestinian Liberation

Palestinian Self-Determination: Support for Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

Anti-Zionism: Opposition to Zionism as a political ideology of settler colonialism.

Accountability Measures: Support for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) or similar accountability measures against Israeli apartheid and occupation.

International Justice: Support for ICC/ICJ investigations and accountability for human rights violations in Palestine.

Anti-Imperialism

Oppose Military Intervention: Opposition to U.S. military intervention and regime change operations.

Close Foreign Bases: Support for closing U.S. military bases abroad.

Cut Military Spending: Support for cutting military spending and reinvesting in social programs.

End Arms Sales: Opposition to arms sales to governments committing human rights violations.

Global Justice

International Cooperation: Support for international cooperation through bodies like the International Criminal Court.

Self-Determination: Opposition to colonialism and support for self-determination for all peoples.

Climate Reparations: Support for climate reparations from wealthy nations to the Global South.

Anti-Colonialism: Support for decolonization efforts and accountability for historical colonialism.

Section 6: Environmental Justice

Climate Action

Rapid Transition: Support for rapid transition away from fossil fuels (phase-out within 10-15 years).

Public Ownership: Support for public ownership of energy and utilities.

Water Justice: Opposition to private control of water and natural resources.

Climate Emergency: Treatment of climate change as an emergency requiring immediate, transformative action.

Just Transition

Guaranteed Jobs: Support for guaranteed jobs and retraining for fossil fuel workers.

Indigenous Leadership: Support for Indigenous-led environmental protection and land management.

Green New Deal: Support for a Green New Deal or equivalent comprehensive climate program.

Environmental Justice: Opposition to environmental racism and support for cleanup of contaminated communities.

Section 7: Democratic Reform

Electoral Democracy

Electoral College Reform: Support for abolishing or reforming the Electoral College.

D.C. Statehood: Support for D.C. statehood and self-determination for U.S. territories.

Voting Rights: Support for automatic voter registration and removing barriers to voting.

End Voter Suppression: Opposition to voter ID laws and other forms of voter suppression.

Political Reform

Filibuster Reform: Support for ending or significantly limiting the filibuster.

Supreme Court Reform: Support for Supreme Court reform (term limits, expansion, or ethics rules).

Campaign Finance Reform: Support for campaign finance reform and public financing of elections.

Citizens United: Opposition to the Citizens United decision and support for overturning it.

Electoral Strategy & Independence

Independent Political Power: Support for building independent political power outside the two-party system OR work within existing parties while supporting the right of others to build independent parties.

Reject Lesser Evil: Rejection of "lesser evil" politics as a long-term strategy for change.

Movement Electoral Power: Support for movement-based electoral organizing, not just candidate-focused campaigns.

Section 8: Firearm Rights & Public Safety Reform

Firearm Ownership Rights

Constitutional Protection: Recognition that firearm ownership is a constitutional right under the Second Amendment.

Responsible Ownership: Support for responsible firearm ownership, including proper training, secure storage, and adherence to safety regulations.

Community Self-Defense: Recognition of the historical and contemporary importance of armed self-defense for marginalized communities facing state violence and organized threats.

Public Safety Through Regulation

Universal Background Checks: Support for universal background checks for all firearm purchases, including private sales and gun shows.

Red Flag Laws: Support for extreme risk protection orders (red flag laws) that allow temporary firearm removal when individuals pose documented threats to themselves or others.

Assault Weapon Regulation: Support for restrictions on civilian ownership of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Safe Storage Requirements: Support for laws requiring secure firearm storage to prevent unauthorized access, particularly by children.

Addressing Root Causes

Economic Investment: Support for investing in economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and community resources to address root causes of violence.

Mental Health Services: Support for expanded mental health services and crisis intervention as alternatives to criminalization.

Community Violence Intervention: Support for community-based violence intervention programs that don't rely on policing.

Domestic Violence Prevention: Support for stronger enforcement of domestic violence firearm restrictions and protections for survivors.

Opposition to Ineffective or Punitive Approaches

No Mandatory Minimums: Opposition to mandatory minimum sentences for firearm possession offenses that disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities.

Against Militarization: Opposition to further militarization of police in the name of responding to gun violence.

Reject Surveillance State: Opposition to mass surveillance justified by gun violence concerns.

Community-Led Solutions: Prioritization of community-led public safety solutions over punitive criminal justice responses.

Section 9: Additional Commitments

Anti-War & Demilitarization

End Forever Wars: Opposition to endless military engagements and support for bringing troops home.

Pentagon Accountability: Support for full audits of Pentagon spending.

Demilitarize Police: Opposition to transfer of military equipment to local police.

Veterans' Care: Support for fully funding VA healthcare and services.

Criminal Justice Reform

Legalize Cannabis: Support for legalizing cannabis and expunging records.

End For-Profit Prisons: Opposition to for-profit prisons and detention.

Sentencing Reform: Support for eliminating mandatory minimums for non-violent offenses.

Restorative Justice: Support for restorative justice alternatives to incarceration.

End Prison Labor Exploitation: Support for ending exploitative prison labor and granting incarcerated workers full labor rights.

Healthcare as a Right

Single-Payer Healthcare: Support for Medicare for All or equivalent single-payer system.

Mental Healthcare: Support for universal access to mental healthcare.

Addiction Treatment: Support for treating addiction as a public health issue, not criminal issue.

Prescription Drug Prices: Support for government negotiation of drug prices and generic alternatives.

Housing Justice

Housing as a Right: Support for housing as a human right, not a commodity.

Rent Control: Support for rent control and tenant protections.

End Homelessness: Support for Housing First approaches to ending homelessness.

Public Housing: Support for expanding quality public housing.

Anti-Gentrification: Opposition to policies that displace working-class communities.

Education Justice

Free Higher Education: Support for tuition-free public higher education.

Public School Funding: Support for fully funding public schools and paying teachers living wages.

Oppose Privatization: Opposition to school privatization and charter school expansion that undermines public schools.

Student Debt: Support for canceling existing student debt.

Media & Technology

Net Neutrality: Support for net neutrality and treating internet as a public utility.

Media Democracy: Opposition to media consolidation and support for media diversity.

Public Media: Support for funding public media and local journalism.

Right to Repair: Support for right to repair legislation.

Data Privacy: Support for strong data privacy protections and limits on corporate surveillance.

Understanding Binary Certification

Why Binary?

The Progressive Coalition Standard uses binary certification for important strategic reasons:

Creates Meaningful Standards: No "mostly progressive" certification means alignment is genuine and complete.

Simplifies Coalition Building: Certified status guarantees full alignment on fundamentals, eliminating lengthy vetting processes.

Maintains Framework Integrity: Clear boundaries prevent dilution of progressive values.

Provides Genuine Accountability: Public commitment to all positions creates real stakes for certified entities.

What If We Disagree With One Position?

If an entity cannot affirm any single position, the framework is not appropriate at this time. This is intentional and serves the movement:

• The framework may not be right for every organization or creator
• Entities may reapply if positions change
• Framework amendments are possible through established processes
• Being uncertified doesn't prevent working with certified entities on specific campaigns

What About Nuance and Complexity?

Framework positions are intentionally broad enough to allow tactical differences while establishing clear values alignment:

Positions Define Values, Not Tactics: For example, "Support Palestinian self-determination" allows various implementation approaches while establishing clear opposition to apartheid and occupation.

Organizational Independence Maintained: Certified entities maintain full independence on specific strategies, priorities, and tactical decisions within framework bounds.

Room for Good-Faith Interpretation: Positions address principles and direction, not every policy detail.

Who Can Get Certified

Organizations (Categories A-F)

• Member-Based Democratic Organizations: Political parties, unions, membership advocacy groups
• Leadership-Directed Organizations: Think tanks, advocacy nonprofits, established campaigns
• Decentralized Movement Organizations: Networked movements, federated organizations, autonomous chapters
• Worker Cooperatives: Worker-owned businesses with political advocacy missions
• Community Organizations: Tenant unions, mutual aid networks, neighborhood organizations
• Affinity Caucuses: Caucuses within larger organizations with semi-autonomous authority

Individual Creators (Category G)

• Podcasters and video content creators
• Political commentators and analysts
• Writers, journalists, and bloggers
• Artists and musicians with political content
• Social media influencers with political focus
• Educators and public intellectuals

Media Organizations (Category H)

• Online news publications and magazines
• Podcasts with editorial teams
• Video channels with multiple contributors
• Independent news outlets
• Progressive media organizations
• Labor and movement media

After Reviewing This Framework

If Your Entity Aligns

Organizations, creators, and media outlets that align with all framework positions can apply for certification by:

1. Reviewing complete governance guidelines
2. Completing the certification application
3. Submitting required documentation
4. Receiving certification and directory listing

If Partially Aligned

Entities that align with most but not all positions should not apply at this time. The framework's binary nature means partial alignment does not qualify for certification. Consider:

• Whether positions might evolve to full alignment
• Advocating for framework amendments through established processes
• Working with certified entities on specific campaigns where alignment exists

Questions or More Information

For complete details on:

• Certification categories and requirements
• Application process
• Governance and enforcement
• Coalition building guidance
• Framework administration

Visit: [framework website]Contact: info@[framework domain]

Framework Administration

The Progressive Coalition Standard is maintained by the Labor Party as movement infrastructure for progressive coalition building. Certification is free and open to all qualifying entities.

Framework Governance:

• Maintained with clear certification and enforcement procedures
• Independent appeals process for disputed decisions
• Public amendment process with input from certified entities
• Annual reporting on framework impact and statistics

Not a Membership Organization:

• Certification does not require joining the Labor Party
• Entities maintain full organizational independence
• Framework serves as coalition-building tool, not recruitment vehicle
• Administered as infrastructure for the broader progressive movement

Questions about specific positions or certification requirements?

Contact: info@[framework domain]Website: [framework website]

This framework represents the complete set of values and policy positions required for Progressive Coalition Standard certification. All positions must be affirmed for certification to be granted.

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